1932-04-15 — Page 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1932.

Retrenchment Commission's

Recommendations

Government Must Not Finance The Training Of Teachers

Preferential Treatment for Local Children

The Colonial Treasurer Should Take A Proper Place in the Administration of the Colony

THE

CHINA

MAIL.

what they can of the teacher's wis- These methods are adopted by train- dom. Examinations at the end, offing institutions in England, and the the course qualify the student for introduction of the same methods to Technical Institute Certificate, this Colony would enable the Gov- This method of training-is-neither ernment to draw upon_a_supply_of} thorough nor valuable. In parti-far better equipped teachers in the cular it fails to provide any system future, than has hitherto been 'the' for the practice of teaching under case. The Commissioners are of guidance. The majority of students the cinpion that while the heads are at work during the day, and and senior masters of the Govern- during the course are not graded acment schools should for some time! cording to their knowledge of to come be recruited from England, English.

the Hong Kong University gradoute)

(b) The course of training at the teachers should be encouraged to University is for four years, and remain in Goverment service, with the method of recruitment of Chin-a view to taking up in the future) ese University graduate masters for some of the higher posts in the. Government schools under this sys-Education Department.

the

tem is, in the opinion of the Com- 92-If it be possible in missioners, both wasteful and un-future, a preferential scale of salary practical. According to the evi- should be, given to the graduate to día- dence of the Director of Education Anglo-Chinese teachers, there is no "natural supply" of tinguish them in status from the Anglo-Chinese and University graduate teachers for non-graduate Government schools; consequently Vernacular teachers. The Commis- Government has found it necessary missioners would suggest that in to provide scholarships in order to future, when appointments are induce students to take the Univer-made to the posts of non-graduate Each of Anglo-Chinese and Vernacular sity course in Education. these "Students-in-Training" costs teachers, the scale of salary_should CONDITIONS OF HOME LEAVE. CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENTS TO HEADSHIPS Government $1,355 a year in respect be $720-$4,800 per annum, which

of fees

But Beale is equivalent to that paid to and allowances..

Clerical establishment "wastage" is high, and the actual the Junior cost at the end of the four years' of the Government.

INSTALMENT VI AND LAST.

OF LADY TEACHERS.

27.The contract

between the

AND SENIOR POSTS.

28--The Comissioners are of the

of late years only been partially or cording to seniority only.

their

&ña do.

23-One of the reasons why European staff is expensive is be Crown and an officer of the Educa- opinion that the officers appointed course works out at about $10,000 33. The benefits of the present cause they go home on leave every

tion Department is for a pro to the Headships of those Govern-"

of three years. ment schools which provide second. Per head. This is clearly, an in-salary scale of $1,800-$6,000, with ordinately expensive scheme. At pension for Anglo-Chinese masters, four years, which in addition to the bationary period

time during her service,ary education should be graduates, the conclusion of the course the should be more widely advertised cost of passages entails the employ- At any

whether during or after the pro- chosen for their high qualifications graduate is bound by the terms of than hitherto. The Commission ment of a large staff than would bationary period, a lady teacher is and for ability, instead of solely on his agreement to serve in a Govern- was informed that these figures if

Merit should otherwise be required. The post required by her contract to resign account of seniority.

ment school for two years, But in more widely known would offer an As the actual fact the Government has little inducement to graduates to enter tion is aggravated by the fact that on mariage, thereby terminating her replace length of service

Provision is made criterion

after in the appointment.

for promotion, and the

or no control over the graduate if, Government service officers wish to go hume Spring, irrespective of when they in the terms of contract that if this qualifications of the officer appoint he refuses to carry out his part of University course.

Government's Comment. within the three ed should be appropriate to second the contract, nor has it any means resignation falls

The Commissioners of enforcing the refund of the aub- are actually due for leave, and re-

Paragraph 29-33.-There is in As a result year's probationary period, the lady ary education. turn in the Autumn.

teacher is required to refund the also consider that the special the department is overstaffed in

whole of her passage money from salaried posts of Senior Masters sidy should the student fail either to Hong Kong a large number of pri- qualify, or to fulfil the prescribed vate unaided vernacular schools; it the Winter, when very few officers

England to Hong Kong. From the and Senior Mistresses should be fill- term of years, at the University, is the teachers of these schools that The Commis- are away on leave.

evidence before them the, Commised by appointment according to There are at the present moment the Technical Institute teachers' sioners appréciate the desirability

twenty-two of these subsidized stu- classes are intended to, from the health point of view of sioners gather that this provison has qualifications and merit, not

They dents in training at the University. benefit. These teachers are poor; going home in the Summer, bht

not at all enforced. They would deprecate.-us. being calculated in The expense incurred by the Gov- their pay may be as low as $20 per they would point out that every recommend, however, that in con- certain circumstances to lead to aernment since the adoption of this month. They cannot afford a Summer the teaching staff of the aideration not only of the loss of the lack of efficiency and consequently scheme is out of all proportion to University course nor would the Education Department receive eight

reverse of econo-the number of Chinese, graduate majority be able to give up their weeks' leave, which enables them to refund of passage money, but of all to a position the

the other expenses borne by the mic-an arrangement by which these teachers now in the Department. working day to attend a Training To abolish the Technical avoid the worst of the hot weather in Hong Kong. It would be no great! Government in pasanges for freshly posts may be allotted to unqualified Further, the methods of training do, College.

candidates, additional officers because of their length of not appear to supply the actual Institute teachers classes would be hardship to require them to take

For example, the senior practice in teaching which should to deprive this class of person of their home leave when it became payment of medical fees, travelling service.

and Crown Agents departmental should be specially appointed on educational course.

proving itself, and indirectly it charges, this provision should in merit to that position, as she has

80.-The Commissioners recom- would affect some thousands of From the tax- school children. future be rigidly enforced and that under her control and supervision

a secondary educa-mend that the following arrange. Moreover these four Senior ments be substituted for those now payers' point of view the classes are remarkably cheap; 262 (ninę pests should only be filled if there in operation. are mistresses qualified and capable

(a) The closing down of the being Government teachers) adult Chinese were in 1930 given in- Technical Institute classes. of filling them.The Commission-

struction at a cast of $9,607, i.e., * (b) The abolition of the subsidy only $37 per head. The statement ers desire especially to impress upon

to students in training at that no actual practice in teaching the Government this recommenda-

the University. tion. The principle of selecting!

is given is incorrect. Whilst ad- the and earmarking a nucleus of officers

training of all mitting that the system whereby teachers for Government Government has to pay the cost of for higher administrative command

schools a Training College training its Chinese is just as important in the Educa-3

University tion Department, as it is in other! Government departments and other walks of life.

appointed

due, irrespective of the time of the expenses of candidates in England, mistress of Central British School be the important feature of an the only opportunity it has of im-t

year,

Government's Comment,

. Paragraph 23.-The arrangement

of the leave programme of his staff must for the most part be left to the head of the department, as re- commended by the Commissioners in paragraph 5 of their report un the Colbuial Secretary's Office. The Director of Education will no doubt bear the recommendations Commissioners in mind.

TRAINING AND STUDY LEAVE FOR BRITISH TEACHERS.

of the

24-The Commissioners record with regret their disapproval of the existing agreement whereby this Colony bears the expense of a year's training in education in England for University graduates after they have been appointed by the Crown for service in Hong Kong. Such a scheme would seem to be some- what one-sided, unless the Govern- ment offered to refund training fees to those candidates who, when they are appointed by the Crown for ser- vice in Hong Kong, have already taken the year's training course at their own expense. The Commis- Bioners consider that under no cir- cumstances should the Hong Kong Government Anance the training of teachers in England in preparation for service in Hong Kong.

25-It has been observed that an officer of the Education Department has recently been granted study leave, and study fees up to the maximum of £50. Presumably this study leave will exceed in length the ordinary vacation leave. The Com- missioners feel that if an officer's .services can be spared for studyi leave without incurring extra ex- pense to the Government in the em ployment of a temporary teacher for that period, then either the Depart ment is overstaffed or the loss of the officer's-services must be detri mental to the best interests of the pupils, who are supposed to depend upon the good offices of the Crown.

26. The Commissioners would suggest that in future auch. officers as are appointed from England should only be appointed if they are al- ready fully qualified, and should not be permitted to obtain these quali fications during their service in the Government and in whole or part at Government expensel to modaDia

Government's Comment.

+

-Paragraphs 24-26The system referred to in this paragraph: was reluctantly, accepted by (lovern- ment as it was impossible to ob tola a sufficient number of trained teachers in any other was, soit la

:that when it is again neces

ruit there.

pg to come to Hong Kong.

the whole of the passage money girls receiving

should be refunded by any officer tion.

resigning before the completion of the three years' probationary period.

Government's Comment. Paragraph 27-This matter has already been under consideration by the Secretary of State who has ruled that the marriage of such officers is a necessary incidence of their employment.

LOCAL SHARE MARKET.

More Activity Evident.

RATES FIRM.

The official summary issued by the Stock Exchange to-day states:.

Markets took on a change for the better this morning, buyers being more in evidence, with rates clined to be firmish.

Sales.

Paragraph 28-Seniority is one of the factors to be taken into ac-

TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

(c) For

should be established with al full time qualified staff, and graduate teachers is not ideal, Government, after considering the a two years' full time course matter carefully on more than one of training.

joccasion, is satisfied that it is in The College could be lodged, until present circumstances the best pha- count when the filling of the higher such time as a separate building sible. The salaries paid-by Gov posta is being considered; qualifica-can be provided, in one, part of ernment are already well known tipns and merit are other con-King's College. It should be under amongst the Chinese commuity, but siderations. A bilance has to be a whole time Head, who should not they are apparently not sufficiently struck between the three, and this be in addition a Headmaster of a attractive to Induce young men in balance the Government endeavours school. If necessary he should, on any number to undergo the four to achieve in its selection. There appointment and before the College years' course at the University at iz no such post as Senior Mistress, is opened, be allowed a period of their own. expense. To raise leave to study up-to-date methods of salaries would be more expensivei Central British School.

training in England. The staff, than the present scheme. The which should be English and Chin-Commissioners atate that allowing ese, could be recruited from among "wastage" the cost to Government 29.-The Retrenchment Commis- the highly qualified men and women works out at $10,000 per head. in-alon in its terms of reference was at present in the Department. Unfortunately they do not mention advised by His Excellency the There should be no separate course how they arrive at this figure, Governor to explore any means by of training at the University, but which is nearly double that which which those Government officials the University graduates should Government is satisfied is more cor- who are recruited from England, take a post graduate one year's rect. Since the inception of the paid on a sterling basis, eligible for course at the Government Training scheme the following leave and passages, and pensior-College to qualify as teachers. In figures;~~ able on retirement, could be satis- the case of the University graduates factorily replaced by Chinese. It the Government might pay a part or ia the considered opinion of the the whole of their tuition fees for Commissioners that a very con-this one year's course and might siderable portion of the work: now grant them an allowance to cover to undertaken by highly paid European their other expenses, such sum officers could be done by Chinese; be decided upon by the Director of but, and here is the important quali- Education in collaboration with the fication, the transition cannot be Vice-Chancellor of the University. immediate, as the training at present For both the two years' training offered to Chinese is not altogether course and the one year's post- satisfactory. The principle methods graduate course, certificates should of, training are:-

be issued on the result of an ex- __(6)_A_.course_at_the_Technical amination in the pretiace and theory

of teaching.

Hong Kong Banks, $1,555/1,585. Union Insurances, $475. Providents (old), $4.90. Hong Kong Renities, $11.65. Ewo Cottons, Tls. 15.85/15.40. Hong Kong Trains, $21. China Lights (old), $21. Hong Kong Electrics, $74. Telephones (P.P.), $24.60. Canton, Ices, $5.05.

Buyers.

Hong Kong Banks, $1,560. Union Insurances $475. Benguets, $14. Docks, $20%. Providents (old), $4.85. -Providents-(new), $2.20.

Hotels (Cunt Right $18.30. Hong Kong Realties, $11.65, Ewo Cottona, Ts. 15,80. Hong Kong Trams, $21. China Lights (old), $20.90. Hong Kong Electrics, $74. Macao Electrics, $2414. Telephones (PP), $24.60. Cements (Combined), $18.20. Sinceres, $16. Amusements, $28. Constructions (new), $1.80. Govt. Loans, 8% Premium. Chinese Estates, $95%. Benguet Explorations, 29 cents. Sellers.

Institute.

Numbers.

are the

'Cost to' Government

33 graduates teaching

under the scheme... $151,515 2 non-graduates teaching

in Government schools 3,000 12 teachers dismissed, re- "signed, deceased after

Bervice

39,760 87,325 $281,600 Assuming for the moment that the 29-failures-are-a-doad-loss árid

29 studentships cancelled

COLUMBIA

NEW PEDESTAL MODEL.

(CHROMIUM PLATED FITTINGS)

THE MODEL HAS MET A REAL

DEMAND FOR A FLOOR IN- STRUMENT AT A MODEST PRICE THAT EMBODIES THE FAMOUS COLUMBIA TONE.

PRICE $220

(less 10% Discount for cash)

CALL AND HEAR IT AT

';'

The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

Ice House Street.

Tel 21322.

PALL MALL

MEDIUM

VIRGINIA CIGARETTES

at

Rothman's

."

65 cts. Pall Mall

per tin of 50's.

Sole. Agents:-

TABAQUERIA FILIPINA

28 Queen's Road Central.

By Special

to HM the

FUNG of

VIRGINIA

MEDIUM

HONG KONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

A

JUMBLE SALE

WİLL BE HELD AT

2 & 3, BEACONSFIELD ARCADE

FON

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27th, at 2 p.m.

Clothes and household goods gratefully received any Monday or Thursday from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.

MARTELL'S BRANDIES

V.S.O.P.

CORDON BLEU.

THREE STAR 11

(also in squarè pinte

and an Educational officer be an offer of the Government, the average cost of the 47 works out at V.V.ES. O. P.

and

Normal Schools.

But g

(b) A course of training at the 31. The Commisalaners wish to and adding their cost to that of the University under the aegis emphasise the point that while the 47 teachers who, subsequent to of a Professor of Education head of the Training College should training, actually received appoint- menta in schools in the Colony, the berforms the part-time closest relations labout), be maintain. viii i duties of a Master of Method, ed between the College, and the fist under $8,000 per head.

University. It should be possible these 29 are not all a dead loss.iiii meitenir (c). A course at the Vernacular for the officer to arrange with the Eight completed the course at their own expense and are now teaching University for the students to (a) At the Technical Institute tend lectures thereat,

On the in the Colony, two more who did not night classes are held in a number other hand, all the itadents should complete the course are also teach- of subjects. The Instructors are have the maximum of experience in ing in the Colony. Adding these In most cases those members of the actual teaching. The head of the ten to the 47, the average cost o Education Department who are wil Training College should have every teachers comca to less than ling to accept the remuneration of facility from the Education Depart $5,000 each. If Eurposan Masters $5 per hour. Into these classes ment for distributing his students are to be replaced by Chinese, it in are admitted regardless of previous through the schools of the Colony, essential that provision should be. education, Students at all stages of In order to practise teaching, not made for ensuring a regular supply learning and with widely differing only under the e of the of the latter. The schools pat for- knowledge of English." They are College

the ward by the Commission to set up taught together and left to imbibe teaching, staff in the schools. (Continued on Page 10.)

BOTTLED IN

COGNAC AND

GUARANTEED

PURE GRAPE

BRANDY

MARTELL & COL

Jadanode to PAD

GANDE PRICE & CO., LTD,